MTFCA Forum

I currently tow with a bigger set-up but I am looking for a car for my daughter and she likes the Jeep Grand Cherokee. She has a 1915 roadster and would have a 20' enclosed trailer. We would buy used around 2018-2020 and the Hemi version is tempting but maybe a little overkill. Does anyone have any experience with a similar set-up?

I have a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.

Check the manufacturer rating on your specific vehicle
for towing capacity.

I have the standard size V-8 with a tow package.

The maximum rated tow capacity is 5000 pounds.

Unless you are pulling a lightweight aluminum
enclosed trailer that weighs less than 3000 pounds
I wouldn’t recommend it.

Even then - it is not a good idea.

The most important part of towing a trailer
is stopping safely - particularly in an emergency.

You need a large platform vehicle of a
suitable mass size to be able to do that.


FJ

In the early 90s my daughter and husband had a Jeep Cherokee and towed their speedster (Ricky) on a small two wheel trailer all over the western US and Canada with no problems. The car and trailer weighed less than 3000 pounds. I wouldn’t have been so comfortable with an enclosed trailer weighing over 5000.

My 18' x 8' wide Haulmark enclosed trailer weights 3800 lbs. A 20 footer will most likely be over 4000. You don't need a 20' trailer for a Model T. A 16' will work but with less room inside to tie down. I also discovered that the manufacturers weight is not the actual weight. I had to weigh mine for the license. The weight tag said 3500 but it was heavier because of options, spare tire, heavier rated tires, tie downs, etc. You can check the tow rating of your tow vehicle at https://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/. You also will want to have a brake controller, weight distributing hitch and proper mirrors.

It's not about pulling it, it's about controlling it. Stopping, as someone mentioned, but also control during cross winds, passing semis, unexpected manuevers, trailer whip, etc. My personal, gut feeling, is that I do not believe the Jeep G.C. has the heft to do that well enough.

A 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a towing capacity of between 3500 and 7200 lbs depending upon how it is equipped. A Model T weighs around 1300 lbs and is under 12 feet in length so a 20 foot trailer would be overkill. I tow my 1917 Touring in a 16 foot enclosed trailer that weighs 2172 so the whole rig isn't that heavy as trailers go. I would think a rig such as mine would be OK behind a properly equipped Grand Cherokee but don't know about the 20 footer, especially if it's a tall one. I tow with a 2006 Sprinter van and hardly know the trailer is there.

this is all great info especially on the length suggestions. I want a daily diver for her but have the option to tow If am not with her. I remember when I Was her age I started doing solo tours and she can have that same opportunity.

You also will have trouble backing up to your trailer, as the automatic braking system will put the brakes on for you.

There is a separate battery under the passenger seat for your dash board display and computer system, etc.

If you leave the lights on all night and that battery goes flat, you cannot get in the car, or put it out of gear.

So the tow truck has to lift the back end to put dolly wheels in place, go around to the front and lift the front end to tow the car back to the dealership.

We towed with one. It was going over the bridge into the States and watching the indicator giving actual fuel consumption dropping towards 1 as we drove up the bridge that made us think there were better ways to do it.

I have a 2011 Grand Cherokee (Sumit) with a V-8 Hemi. I've pulled my Fordor on a flatbed trailer all over the U>S. with absolutely no problems. It likes gas at 8 MPG. Most of the time I drove the speed limit, up to 70 MPH.